The inaugural Round Top Film Festival (RTFF) is now accepting film submissions for the 2024 festival, taking place November 7-10, in Round Top, Texas.

Founded by Shanna Schanen and Skylar Schanen, a dynamic mother-daughter duo, Round Top Film Festival embodies the spirit of creativity, education, and community enrichment. Nestled in an idyllic stretch of road halfway between Houston and Austin, Round Top has evolved from a quiet retreat to a vibrant hub of year-round activity. The Festival will contribute to its cultural growth while celebrating and preserving the unique charm of this special place.

Dubbed the ‘Aspen of Texas,’ Round Top is long renowned as an escape for curious creatives, worldly wanderers and style forecasters. The town is perhaps most notable for its bi-annual Round Top Antiques & Design Show, one of the largest and most prestigious in the United States. In addition to antiques, Round Top offers visitors a variety of shops, art galleries, and eateries to explore along with an array of boutique hotels and cozy retreats with five star amenities. Its historic buildings and beautiful natural surroundings add to its appeal, making it a beloved destination for those seeking a blend of culture, history, and Texas hospitality.

The centerpiece venue of the festival will be held at Round Top Festival Institute’s 210 acre campus, Festival Hill. Founded in 1971 by world-renowned concert pianist James Dick, the Concert Hall has been host to notable performances and educators from around the globe.

Awards & Prizes

Audience Award:
Best Feature Film

Jury Award:
Best Live Action Short
Best Comedy Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Music Video

Rules & Terms

FEE WAIVERS NOT AVAILABLE

-Submission fee is non-refundable.

-Films that have been publicly broadcast in the United States and/or films that are publicly streaming online prior to the 2024 film festival are not eligible.

-Finished projects must be completed no earlier than August 2023 to be eligible for the 2024 film festival.

-You may submit as many entries as you like. Each entry must be accompanied by its own online entry and entry fee.

-The filmmaker will assume shipping costs of materials and DCP to RTFF.

-Films produced in languages other than English must have legible English subtitles.

-The selection committees' and juries' decisions are final.

-Entrants must assume all responsibility for clearing films through U.S. and/or foreign customs officials.

-Filmmakers must have obtained all clearances for exhibition and must certify that the work is original and no disputes regarding ownership exist with the film.

-All entries must be submitted through FilmFreeway by August 20, 2024.

-Round Top Film Festival accepts no responsibility for loss or damage of exhibition screeners (DCP, thumb drives, etc) during shipment to or from the Round Top Film Festival.

-Round Top Film Festival DOES NOT PAY SCREENING FEES for submitted films. By submitting your project, you acknowledge that the Festival will not pay to present your work.

-Films are screened on DCP and must be delivered in format requested by deadline set at time of acceptance.

-All Festival scheduling is purely at the discretion of the Round Top Film Festival programming department.

-The Round Top Film Festival (RTFF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, founded in 2024, committed to enriching our community through the power of film and the arts. Our mission is to ignite creativity, encourage learning, and provide a magical cultural experience that leaves audiences inspired. For more information on passes and events, visit www.roundtopfilmfest.org.